Vehicle steering mechanism



L. C. VANDERLIP.

VEHICLE STEERING lvECHANlS/I.v APPLICATION FILED JAN.29, 1921.

1,395,314. Patented Nov. 1, 192L,

Ii 2l H m UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

LOUIS C. YANDERLIP, OF ELKHART, INDIANA.

,VEHICLE STEERING MECHANISM.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nev. 1, 1921.

Application led January 29, 1921. Serial No. 440,861.

An -object of my invention is to provider a steering wheel locking mechanism in which the steering wheel or member is mounted upon anti-friction bearings. Another object of my invention is to provide a steering wheel locking mechanism in which the steering wheel may readily be mounted upon or dismounted from anti-friction bearings without disassembling the latter. A third object of my invention is to provide improved means for preventing the removal of the steering wheel from the steering post when the former is unlocked from the latter. Other objects of my invention are mentioned and described herein.-

The preferred embodiment of my invention is illustrated` in the accompanying drawing in which Figure 1 is a sectional side elevation of a steering .wheel in fragment, steering post, and otherrmembers, to which my invention is applied, in which figure the steering wheel is shown. independently rotatable on the steering post; Fig. 2 is asimilar sectional view througha modification of my invention; Fig 3 is a similar sectional view through a fragment showing another modification of the invention; Fig. 4 is a section taken on the line 4.-11 of Fig. 3; and Fig. 5 is a view of the'V ball, bearing sleeve shown in Figs. 2 and 3,

`Similar numerals of reference indicate like members throughout the several views, on the drawing.

Referring tothe details of the drawing, the numeral 1 indicates the usual hollow Steering column within which the usual cylindrical, or any type of, steering post 2 is arranged, the latter being adaptedfor operative connection with the steering gear-not shown-of the vehicle, as, is well known in the art. Numeral 3 indicates a hollow cylindrical driver hub rigidly mount-v ed upon the top end ofthe post 2 to which it may be secured by a key, 4 to prevent rotative movement thereof on said post. A

nut 5 may be screw threaded uponthe post 2 above the hub 3 to confine the latter against upward displacementr from the post. The hub 3 may have a radially formed bolt i.socket 6 disposed intermediate the two circumferential grooves 7 and 8, usually termed ball races, formed in hub 3, as hereinafter described.

lhe numeral 9 indicates a hollow cylindrical ball bearing sleeve encompassing the hub 3, the bore of said sleeve being slightly larger than the exterior diameter of said hub, said sleeve bore having the two endless annular grooves, or ball races, 10 and 11 formed therein to cdperate with the hubv races 7 land 8, respectively, to car-ry the anti-friction balls 12, a plurality of which are arranged in each of said ball race units. `,The sleeve 9 may be provided also with the aperture 13 arranged in a plane to register with the hub socket 6, but which is prefere ably larger in diameter than the socket 6 to receive the thimble 14C, as hereinafter described.

Numerals 15 and 16 indicate upright slots formed, respectively, in the -hub 3 and sleeve 9 and communicating, respectively, with the races 7 and 10 to enable introduction of a Suitable number of the .balls 12 into the cooperating grooves 7 and 10. The numerals 17 and 18 indicate upright slots formed, respectively, in the exterior of the hub 3 and bore of sleeve 9 and communieating, respectively, with the races 8 and 11 to enable the introduction of the balls` 12 into the races 8 and 11 when the sleeve orifice 19, with which the slot 18 is. in communication, is with the slot 17. v

The numeral 20 indicates ahollow. steeringwheel. hub encompassing the. sleeve 9 and provided with the interior shoulder 21 which may be engaged bythe upper end of placed in communication said sleeve for suppoitina the former. The

hub 20 may/have a'laterally projecting bolt housing 20"which is provided with a chamlbei.1 \22 in which the lock barrel 23V is sl idablarranged, said lock barrel containing lany preferred lock mechanism--not shown thimble flange then projecting into the chamber 22, whereby said wheel hub is held against.- removal from said sleeve when the hub 20 is tree to rotate around the driver hub 3. `The thimble 14 may be provided with radial slot 27 adapted to receive a tool, or screw driver, to actuate said thimble into or out of the aperture 13, which, obviously, can be accomplished only through the chamber 22 and when the latter is empty. The thimble 14 serves also to prevent rotative mmcment of the wheel hub 2O on the sleeve 9, thereby maintaining the registration ot' the chamber 22 with the sleeve aperture i3 and the bore of the thimble.

i Numeral 28 indicates a reduced extension Carried bythe'barrel 23 and adapted to be alternately moved through the bore of the tubular thimble 14 into and out of' engagement with the hub socket 6 to effect a locked or unlocked relation between the wheel hub 20 kand the driver hub 3. The lock barrel pin 24 `is adapted to be engaged in either of two recesses 29 and 3() formed in the wall of the chamber 22,' whereby the barrel 23may be releasably locked in the position shown, or in the forward position-not shown-when the locking bolt 28 is in engagement with the bolt socket 6. The lock barrel 23 may have a longitudinal groove 31 which is coextensive in length with the interval between the recesses 29 and 30, said slot being normally engaged by a stop pin 32 which is removably screwed into the housing 20', whereby said barrel is prevented from rotation, and whereby the'pin 24 automatically registers with Veither of the recesses 29 and 3() at the completion of either movement of said barrel, forward or backward.

In the modification shown in Fig. 2 the driver hub 3 is provided with an annular flange 33, below which flange the sleeve 9 is arranged, as heretofore described, said sleeve heilig slightly greater in diameter than said hub flange and having an annular flange adjacent the lower end thereof, whereby the wheel hub 2O may be mounted upon said sleeve from above and supported by the sleeve flange 34 when thus mounted. In said modification the bolt socket 6 is formed in and radially of the hub flange 33 and functions as a socket for the bolt 23. as 4hereinbefore described. And in this structure (Fig. 2) the stop pin 32 and bar rel slot 31 are shown disposed in a. horizontal plane to enable the detent pin 35 to be arranged beneath the chamber 22, which detent pin serves as a substitute for the thim- `ble 14 ot Fig. 1. The pin 35 is screwed into a socket 36 formed singularly relative toY the chamber 22 and from the interior thereof, the lower extremity ot said pin Socket registering with a recess 37 formed in the exterior periphery of the .sleeve l), the point of said pin projecting into said `sleeve recess. The upper end of the pin slot 36 is covered and rendered inaccessible to unauthorized persons by the lock barrel 23 when the latter is retracted, as shown in Fig. 2, which effectively renders the detent pin 35 inaccessible at the time when the bolt 28 is disengaged from the socket 6. The pin 35 may have a slot 33 to receive a screw driver for actuating it. The hub flange 33 may have the vertical conduit 39 to en` able the introduction of the balls 12 to the slots 15 and 16 for disposition within `the ball races, as hereinbefore described.

ln the modification shown in Figs. 3 and 4, another form of the locking means for' locking the wheel hub 2() to the driver hub 3 is shown. In 'other respects the structure may be similar to that shown and described in Fig. 2. The modification shown in Figs. 3 and 4 contemplates a sliding locking bolt 40 arranged in the chamber 22, which bolt may be provided with a reduced end 41 adapted to engage the socket', for the purpose of locking the wheel hub to the driver hub, as hereinbefore described. The bolt 40 may have a circumferential groove 42 which is adapted to be engaged by the locking arm 43 mounted upon the end of the revoluble key barrel 44 mounted in the tumbler lock 45, the latter being suitably secured in a chamber 46 in the housing 20. Thereby, the bolt 40 may be locked with the point 4l retracted from the socket 6. The bolt 40 is adapted to be manually actuated by a transverse pin 4T projecting through a slot 48 formed in the housing 20, in which slot said pin is longitudinally movable to enable the forward and backward` movenient of said bolt. Preferably, the pin 47 is removably screwed into the bolt 40 to enable removal of the bolt 40 to gain access to the detent pin 35. When the bolt point 41 is engaged with the socket 6 the lock arm 43 may be swung across the rear face of the bolt body 40 to prevent casual disengagement of the bolt point 4l trom said socket. ln this structure, as in that shown in Fig. 2, the detent pin 35 is rendered inaccessible to unauthorized persons and can be disengaged from the sleeve 9 only by a person having i a key to the lock 45 who must first remove the bolt 40 vtrom its chamber to expose the top end of the detent pin 35. The bolt pin 47 may serve also as a stop member, by engagement with the end walls of the slot 46,`

to limit the reciprocatory movement of said i Abolt and to effect `registration of the groove axial movement of said encircling member and post; a steeringy member fitted over. said encircling member and removable there from; disengageable detention means connecting said encircling member with said steering member to preventendwise movement of the latter relative to said post; and

' means for releasablyv locking said steering member to said post, said means rendering said detention means inoperable When said steering member is unlocked from said post.

3. In mechanism of the class described, a steering post; a driver hub secured' to said post, said hub carrying a fiange adjacent one end thereof; a sleeve encircling said hub beyond said hub iange and rotatable thereon; means for preventing relative axial movement of said sleeve and hub; a steering member removably fitted over.-said sleeve; disengageable detention means to prevent endwise movement of said steering member relative to saidV sleeve; and means for releasably locking said steering member to said hub flange.

4. In mechanism of the class described, a steering post; a driver hub secured to said Apost', said li'ub being provided Withan extension a sleeve rotatably encircling said hub `,beyond said hub extension; means for preventing relative axial. movement of said sleeve and hub; a steering member removably fitted over said sleeve; disengageable detention means to prevent endwise movei :ment of said steering member relative to said sleeve; and means for releasably locking "said steering member to said hub extension.

5. In mechanism of the class described, a steering post; a vdriver hub secured to said post, said hub being provided With an extension; -a sleeve element rotatably encircling said hub beyond said extension, said sleeve being somewhat greater in diameter than said hub extension; meansfor preventing relative axial movement of said sleeve and hub; a steering member removably fitted over said sleeve andadapted t0A be mounted thereon over said hub extension; and means for releasably locking said. steering member to said driver hub extension.

6. In combination, a steering post; a driver hub thereon; a sleeve rotatable on said hub, said sleeve being provided with an aperture; means for preventing relative axial movement of said sleeve and hub; a

steering member fitted over said sleeve; and a lock barrel provided with an extension which is adapted to be projected through said sleeve aperture into engagement with said driver hub to lock said steering member thereto.

7. Inl combination, a steering post; a driver hub provided With an eXtension,-said hub being mounted upon saidpost #wa sleeve rotatable on said hub; means for preventin relative axial movement of said sleeve and hub; a steering member fitted over said sleeve; and a lock barrel carried by the steering member and adapted to engage the `driver hub extension to lock said steering member thereto.

8. In combination, a steering post; a driver hub secured thereto; a sleeve rotatable on said hub; means for preventing relasaid steering member thereto, said lock barrel being adapted also to render said detention means inoperable when said steering.'l

member is unlocked from said post.

l .9. In mechanism of the class described, y

a steering post; a sleeve encircling said post y and rotatable thereabout; means for preventing relative axial movement of said sleeve and post; a steering head-fitted over said sleeve and removable therefrom; disengageable` detention means vconnecting said sleeve with said steering head to prevent endwise movement of the latter relative to `said sleeve; and means for releasably locking Said steering head to said post, said means rendering said detention means `iii-' operable when said steering head is un? locked from. said post.

10. In mechanism of the class described2 a steering post; a sleeve encircling said post and rotatable thereabout; anti-friction bear- :ing means lfor preventing relative axial movement of said sleeve and post; a steering head fitted over said sleeve and removable therefrom; disengageable detention means to prevent endwise movement ofi-said steering head relative to said sleeve; and means for releasably locking said steering head to said postjsaid means preventing disengagement of said detention means when said steering head is unlocked from said post.

over said encircling element. and removable,`

therefrom; desengagable detention means 11. In mechanism of the classidescribed, y

' tatable thereon; means tatable thereon; means tive axial movement of said encircling ele ment and post*7 a steering element fitted over said encircling element and removable thereconnecting said` encircling elementwith said steering element to prevent endwise movement of the latter relative to said post; lock controlled means to enable actuation of sai detention means; and means for releasably lookin said steering l2. n mechanism of the class described, a steering post; an encircling element roor preventing relative axial movement of said encircling element and post; a steering` element fitted over said encircling element and removable therefrom; disengageable detention means connecting said encircling element with said steering element to prevent endwise movement of the latter relative to said post; and means for releasably locking said steering element to said post.

13. In mechanism of the class described, a steering post; an encircling element roi`3or preventing relafrom; means for releasably locking `sad steering element to said post; and means for preventing rotative movement of the steering element on said encircling element.

element to said post,-

14. In mechanism of the class described, a steering post; an encircling element rotatable thereonand provided with an aperture; `means for preventing relative axial movement of said encircling element and the post; a steering element fitted over said encircling element and removable tl1erefrom; means carried by the steering element and movable through said encircling element aperture for releasabl'y locking said steering element to said post; and means f or preventing rotative movement of said steering element on said encircling element when the former is unlocked from said steering post.

l5. In combination, a vsteering post; a driver hub rigid therewith; a sleeve rotatable about said hub; means for preventimg relative axial movement of said sleeve and hub; a steering element fitted overl said sleeve; and a lock barrel carried by the steering element for releasably locking the latter to said driver hub."

ln testimony whereof l have hereunto affixed my signature this 27th day of J anuary, 1921.

noms ofvANDnRLrr. 

